That doesn’t mean fewer people are having stroke and heart attack symptoms. It means they’re avoiding the hospital. They may be afraid they’ll catch the coronavirus from other patients. Or they might think the hospital is now only treating coronavirus patients.

UVA & the Coronavirus: What to Expect

We’ve rescheduled some appointments and procedures, but these are for non-emergencies. The Emergency Department is still open for emergencies and serious issues.

Minimizing Risk at the Hospital

We have taken steps to keep the hospital safe from coronavirus infection. These include:

Screening all patients for the coronavirus when they arrive

Evaluating, testing, and treating people with possible infections in a separate, isolated treatment area

Also, patients can’t have visitors, with some exceptions. This helps reduce the risk of the coronavirus spreading to patients and employees.

When to Call 911

So, what symptoms should prompt an immediate 911 call or emergency room trip? Heart attacks and strokes are two of the most common conditions.

Stroke Symptoms: Slurred Speech, Drooping Face

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the fifth most common cause of death in the United States. It’s also the leading cause of serious disability. But quick action makes a difference. Doctors can give you clot-busting drugs and perform surgery if necessary.

B.E. F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember stroke symptoms and what to do:

Balance — sudden loss of balance or coordination

Eyes — double vision or lack of vision in one eye

Face — an uneven smile, one side of the face drooping

Arm — one arm is weak

Speech — slurred speech

Time — call 911 at once

Brain bleeds and other severe neurological problems can have similar and additional symptoms, including seizures.

Heart Attack Symptoms: Chest Pain & More

About 805,000 Americans have a heart attack each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart attacks happen when blood can’t get to the heart muscle, and the tissue gets damaged or dies.

Just like with strokes, it’s essential to go to the hospital immediately if you have symptoms. Doctors can give medications and do surgeries that restore the blood flow to your heart. But the longer you wait, the more your risk of permanent damage and death increases.

These symptoms may mean you’re having a heart attack:

A squeezing, heavy chest pain behind your breastbone

Pain or numbness in the left shoulder, left arm or jaw

Shortness of breath

Sweaty or clammy skin

Nausea

Weakness

Loss of consciousness

Anxiety

Chest pain is the most common symptom. But women are more likely than men to also experience shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, and back or jaw pain, according to the American Heart Association.

“We don’t want patients to avoid calling for emergency services or going to the hospital if they have any signs or symptoms of other illnesses,” Southerland says. “We still want to recommend to folks to call 911, get your EMS providers there to help, and get to the hospital as soon as possible.”